Bed-slat fastener and brace.



R. H. SHELTON.

BED SLAT PASTE-HER AND BRAGE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1902.

PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

ROBERT H. SHELTON,

Patented June 16, 1903.

rrrcn.

vOF CELESTE, TEXAS.

BED-=SLAT FASTENER AN D BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,326, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed March 24, 1902. Serial No. 99,691. (No model.)

To aZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT H. SHELTON, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Celeste, in the county of Hunt and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Bed- Slat Fastener and Brace, of which'the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object the construction of a bed-slat which will effectually prevent the distension of the side rails of the bed and will also strengthen and support the slats and prevent sagging or breakage; and the invention consists in a bed-slat provided with one or more longitudinally disposed brace-Wires having hooks on the ends adapted to engage eyes upon the bed-rails, whereby the opposite bed-rails are not only firmly bound together, but the slats supported and strengthen ed and sagging and breakage obviated, all as hereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrative of the inven tion, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a bedstead with the improvement attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section enlarged. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the fastener members detached.

The device is applicable to any form of bedstead employing transverse slats to support the springs and mattress, and for the purpose of illustration I have shown it applied to an ordinary bedstead and its slats, 5 representing the head member, 7 and 8 the side members, and 9 the slats.

On the under sides of the slats and disposed longitudinally thereof are brace-wires 10, which are of greater length than the slats, the ends of the wires passing through upwardly outwardly inclined apertures at the ends of the slats and extending beyond the ends thereof and the wires being formed into hooks 10 at their extremities, as shown. Generally two ofthe Wires 10 will be employed on" each slat, as shown, which will be sufficient under ordinary circumstances; but a greater or lesser number may be employed, if required. Upon the inner sides of the side members 7 and 8 are disposed a series of eyes 11, corresponding to the hooks 10 on the Wire braces and adapted to be engaged thereby, as shown, by which means the slats are supported in position. Eyes may be formed upon the ends of the wire braces 10 and the eyes 11 on the side members 7 and 8 replaced by hooks, if preferred; but this would be merely a colorable modification and would not eifect the scope or spirit of the invention and would not change its functions or mode of operation.

By conducting'th'e brace-wires diagonally upward and outward through the apertures in the slats the necessity for any other fastening is obviated, as the hooks l0 eifectually prevent any longitudinal movement between the wires and the slats after the wires are in place and the hooks formed upon them.

The inclination of the end portions of the wires is an important feature, as the wires are thereby transformed into truss-like braces to the" slats, which greatly strengthens them and effectually prevents sagging and breakage. Thus a lighter slat will possess the same strength as a braced slat or the ordinary slat will be greatly strengthened.

The tendency of ordinary bed-rails to distend and allow the slats to drop out or of the slats to sag and produce the same effect is well known and is the source of much annoyance. Hence the importance of any device which will obviate these tendencies.

The invention herein described fully meets all the above requirements in a very simple and inexpensive manner, and While accomplishing fully the desired results does not add materially to the cost of the bedstead.

Any suitable-sized wire or slat may be employed.

If preferred, the ordinary cleats may be employed to support the ends of the slats in addition to the wire braces.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to Letters Patent, is

1. A bed-slat having upwardly, outwardly secure by inclined apertures, extending from its under side to its ends, and a brace-wire, of greater length than the slat, disposed longitudinally under the same, having its end portions passed through the said apertures, and formed with means, projecting from the ends of the slat, to engage supports in the side rails of a bedstead, substantially as described.

2. A bed-slat having a downwardly-bowed In testimony that I claim the foregoing as brace-Wire disposed longitudinally on its unmy own I have hereto aifixed my signatn re in der side and extending the entire length therethe presence of two witnesses.

0f,said brace-wire beingofgreaterlength than ROBERT H. SHELTON. 5 the slat and formed with means, projecting Witnesses:

from the ends of the slat to support the letter R. P. BRINDLEY,

on a bedstead, substantially as described. T. J. SIMS. 

